Report: In-dash car tech can be annoying, buggy

Modern automobiles are rolling computer systems, bristling with processors and digital controllers. They’ve long been found under the hood, monitoring how the engine runs and other systems interact, but now they’re more prominent in the dashboard.

The April 2013 issue of Consumer Reports looks at the digital lifestyle features found in modern cars. Even the least expensive models now let you plug in your smartphone or media player right into the dash, and more cars come with sophisticated touch screens that control music and other features related to driving pleasure and comfort.

Built-in systems like Acura Link, Cadillac CUE, Chrysler UConnect, MyFord and MyLincoln Touch, GM OnStar, Hyundai BlueLink, Toyota Entune, and others offer a variety of connectivity and convenience options, from checking the weather in advance of a trip, to making a restaurant reservation and navigating your way to dinner.

The downside is that some of these systems can be frustratingly complicated and distracting to use, although many manufacturers wisely limit accessibility to some functions while the vehicle is in motion. What’s worse is that as systems have grown more sophisticated, some previously simple controls — such as adjusting the temperature or changing a radio station — have ended up being incorporated into touch screens, and may involve more steps than simply turning a knob. However, most systems allow at least some voice controls, which enable you to keep your eyes on the road during complicated tasks like phone dialing or song selection.

Many of these features also require a smartphone, which not everyone has – and even then, features may not be available to you if you don’t have the correct data plan. For example, I don’t pay AT&T to allow tethering or the Wi-Fi hotspot feature on my iPhone 5 – it’s not allowed with the company’s grandfathered unlimited service. As a result, I can’t use many of the high-tech features on my wife’s 2012 Prius, such as pulling in traffic data or searching the Web.

A separate story looks at the state of the art of in-dash electronics. Nearly every new car now comes with at least optional Bluetooth connectivity, and on some models it’s standard, touted as a safety feature for allowing hands-free phone calling. Touchscreens for GPS, entertainment and Internet connectivity are increasingly common, but the software design sometimes leaves a lot to be desired:

To reduce driver distraction, some functions are usually deactivated while the vehicle is moving. And though there can still be features that take your eyes off the road, using an in-car system is easier than trying to operate the small buttons of a portable device while you drive.

That said, some systems are easier to use than others. We’ve found Cadillac’s CUE and the MyFord/MyLincoln Touch systems to be particularly frustrating. Common gripes are complicated menus, touch screens that are slow to respond, touch-sensitive buttons that are fussy and imprecise, and small display fonts and buttons that are hard to quickly read and access.

On the plus side, Chrysler’s Uconnect Touch system provides simple, clear menus while retaining easy-to-use push buttons and knobs for frequent tasks. The 17-inch touch screen in the Tesla Model S has large onscreen buttons and is super responsive.

The story goes on to further criticize the MyFord system. It apparently suffers many of the issues found in poorly written PC software:

Regular readers know that we aren’t fans of Ford’s MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch infotainment systems. The controls are overly complicated, cumbersome to use, and potentially distracting. But aside from the usability problems, we’ve had numerous electronic glitches and system crashes in our test vehicles’ systems. . . .

The article also details how owners of older vehicles can upgrade their cars’ entertainment and connectivity features, starting from a simple $40 Bluetooth kit for hands-free driving, to third-party replacements for in-dash radios that feature sophisticated touchscreens. Those can easily cost hundreds of dollars.

I’ve started shopping for a new car to replace my aging 2001 Ford Mustang. In-dash tech wasn’t important to me when I bought that car – it still has a cassette player in it – but it’s high on my feature list this time around. I’ll probably end up with much smaller, fuel-efficient vehicle, but its digital features need to be top-of-the-line.

What’s in your dashboard? If you’ve got a high-end system, how do you like it? Is it easy to use and reliable, or frustrating and buggy? Let us know in the comments.